Would you use this scheme?

When I first saw this I had horrible visions of a pay and go system similar to a mobile phone, i.e. you buy a PC and then pay MS and hourly/minutely charge to use it. Having read it a bit further I can't decide if its a good idea, the basic theory is sound but this is MS and I don't trust them as far as I can throw them (is it possible to throw an 800lb gorilla?). What happens for instance if you want to wipe XP and put Linux on instead? Or if the computer gets stolen?
I can just see a clause in the terms and conditions stating that Microsoft may change the terms and conditions of this contract at any time without notice.
The fee MS charge may well be extortionate as well I fear, at least in terms of the overall cost versus buying the PC outright.
It appears to be aimed at less developed nations, so assuming the person buying it doesn't have the internet how will the computer know they have been keeping up payments? A coin slot in the case maybe?

Sounds a bit of a rip off to me. Pay as you go always means paying more than you would to pay upfront. Anyway will any of them have the phone lines to be able to go through the Activate Windows Malarky.

GMorgan wrote:Sounds a bit of a rip off to me. Pay as you go always means paying more than you would to pay upfront. Anyway will any of them have the phone lines to be able to go through the Activate Windows Malarky.

Not only are they trying to rip people off, they are to rip off 'people in emerging markets'.

I think the motive is to create, or rather, encourage a future customer resource base ... as MS sometimes like to put it. Creating the familiarity. Unfortunately the first introduction can often dominates the later choices.